Decomia anthophila, Yasunaga, Tomohide & Duwal, Ram Keshari, 2015

Yasunaga, Tomohide & Duwal, Ram Keshari, 2015, Further records and descriptions of the plant bug subfamily Phylinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) from Thailand, Zootaxa 3981 (2), pp. 193-219 : 203

Decomia anthophila n. sp.

( Figs. 4 B −C, 7, 9, 12)

Diagnosis. Recognized by its moderate size; almost completely pale yellowish brown coloration; apical 1/6−1/4 of antennal segment II dark; and only narrowly rouged base of cuneus. This new species is very similar and assumed to be sister to D. indochinensis Schuh , from which it can be distinguished by the characters diagnosed above (cf., Figs. 4 C vs. E; Fig. 7 ).

Description. Body generally light yellow-brown, oval, medium-sized; dorsal surface relatively shining, with uniformly distributed, pale, simple, short setae. Antenna pale brown; apical 1/6−1/4 of segment II infuscate. Labium shiny brown, reaching apex of mesocoxa; apical part of segment IV darkened. Hemelytron hyaline; base and inner margin of cuneus narrowly rouge; membrane pale grayish brown, semitransparent, with posteriorly brown veins. Legs pale brown; extreme apices of metafemur and each tibia sanguineous. Abdomen pale brown; terga II −VIII each with a brown, posterior fascia (thus, 7 fasciae visible through hyaline hemelytron as in Fig. 4 B & C). Male genitalia as in Fig. 9 ; left paramere lacking median process; endosoma J-shaped, not strongly broadened apically. Female genitalia as in Fig. 12 ; sclerotized ring with thick anterior margin.

Measurements (♂/♀): Total body length 2.2−2.4/ 2.3−2.5; length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 1.56−1.62/ 1.69−1.72; width of head across eyes 0.60−0.63/ 0.60−0.63; width of vertex 0.33−0.35/ 0.35−0.37; lengths of antennal segments I-IV 0.12−0.13, 0.49−0.53, 0.25−0.27, 0.25−0.26/ 0.11−0.13, 0.49−0.50, 0.26−0.27, 0.27−0.28; labial length 0.85−0.98/ 1.00−1.08; mesal length of pronotum 0.35−0.38/ 0.38−0.43; basal width of pronotum 0.90−0.94/ 0.98−1.02; maximum width across hemelytron 1.07−1.09/ 1.12−1.14; and lengths of metafemur, tibia and tarsus 0.83−0.86, 1.11−1.14, 0.36−0.41/ 0.85−0.90, 1.12−1.17, 0.36−0.40.

Etymology. From Greek, anthos (= flower) + philos (= lover), referring to this new species collected from the inflorescence.

Biology. This new species is occasionally attracted to light. Five adults were found to inhabit and feed on inflorescence of an evergreen broadleaf, Elaeocarpus [possibly] grandiflorus Sm. ( Elaeocarpaceae ), together with numerous D. taksini Yasunaga and a few D. indochinensis Schuh ( Figs. 4 E, 7), although no immature forms were confirmed at the moment. Collection records suggest D. anthophila has at least two generations per year.

Holotype: m, THAILAND: Nakhon Nayok: West Sarika, mountain, N14.354950 E101.272582, Elaeocarpus [prob.] grandiflorus Sm., 18 Apr 2013, T. Yasunaga ( AMNH _PBI 00380381) ( DOA).

Paratypes: Nakhon Nayok: 4m 1f, same data as for holotype (00380382–00380385) ( AMNH, TYCN). Nakhon Ratchasima: 1m 1f, SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, 1−3 Jun 2012, T. Yasunaga (00380386) ( TYCN); 1♂, same data except for date 25 Sep 2013 (00380387) ( TYCN).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Habitus images of living adult individuals of Thai phylines. A. Sejanus adustopaca, holotype male (Nakhon Nayok). B. D. anthophila, male (Nakhon Nayok). C. Ditto, female. D. D. taksini (Nakhon Nayok). E. Decomia indochinensis, male (Nakhon Nayok). F. Malaysiamiris nigrescens, male (SERS). G. Ditto, female. H. Tytthus chinensis, female (Nakhon Nayok). I. Lasiolabops cosmopolites, female (SERS). J. Sthenaridea rufescens, female (Chaiyaphum).

FIGURE 7. Habitus images of Thai phylines.

FIGURE 9. Male genitalia of three new phyline species from Thailand.

FIGURE 12. Photographic images of female genitalia for Thai phylines.